Improvement in temporary binders



P; ENGLAND.

TEMPORARY-BINDER. No. 193,442. Patented July 24,1877.

WITNESSES: INVEEWUR W ATTBWEYSu MPETERS, PHDTO-UTHOGRAPHEFL WASHINGTON, D C

IINITED STATES PAREN ENGLAND, OFLINcoLN, NEB-RA-SKA' IMPROVEMENT IN TEMPORARY B l'NDE R S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 193,442, dated July 24,1877 5 application filed June 4, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known "that I, PAREN ENGLAND, of Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and Improved Expansilile File or Binder for Letters, Invoices, 850.; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, 'clear,'and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-section of the file or binder; Fig. 2, a front edge view, and Fig.3 a fragmental View with the backs opened and the contents out out, showing the means for securing. the indexed leaves and holding the backs close together at the rear.

My invention relates to certain improvements in that form of file or binder which consists of two backs or leaves hinged or fastened together, so as to open or fold like a book.

My invention consists, first, in the particular arrangement of a clasp with respect to the backs of the file, which clasp is made in the form of the lazy-tongs, and is adjusted by means of a thumb-screw, that causes the bars of the lazy-tongs to be held rigidly together, and at the same time forms a pivot for said bars. 7

The second feature of the invention consists in giving to the hinged or back portion of the file an expansibility, to correspond to the adjustment of the clasp, which is effected by means of metal tubes and an elastic spring arranged in the said tubes, and passing through the indexed pages of the file, as shown in the drawings, and more fully described hereafter.

In the drawings, A A represent the backs or leaves of the file or binder, which are united at their rear edges, like most binders of this class, with a fullness of leather or other flexible material, B, which operates as a hinge, and whose fullness permits the expansion of the file or book. 0 is the clasp, which is constructed of metal bars arranged parallel, and pivoted to each other at the ends and center, after the manner of the lazy-tongs. This clasp is hinged, at one end, a, to a pintle or pivotbar in a metal clamp, a, attached to one of the leaves, and at the other end is provided with a perforation, b, that fastens over a headed stud, 12 formed on a second metal clamp, 1) attached to the other leaf.

This form of clasp, it 'will be seen, is extensible to a considerable distance, to correspond to the increasing thickn'ess'o'f thebook, audit is fixed in any of its adjustments so as "to hold the backs together by means of a binding-screw, c, which forms the'central pivotfor the lazy-tongs, and at the same time, when screwed up tightly, serves to bring the two middle bars of the lazy-tongs together with such tightness and frictional contact as to prevent any further extension or loosening of the clasp from ordinary usage. To hold the rear edges of the backs together, so as to clamp the contents of the file at this point, and yet permit the backs to expand to the extent of the fullness of the leather connection as the contents of the file accumulate, the backs of the file are each cut away at theirinuer edges, as shown in dotted lines 3 y, and in these cutaway portions are inserted metal tubes d, which tubes are flushwith the edges of the backs, and are fastened by having their flanged edges extended on opposite sides of the back, and riveted thereto. Through each of these tubes passes a single continuous elastic cord or flexible spring, 0, which is, preferably, constructed of rubber and thread woven together, but which may be made either wholly or in part of spiral wire.

This elastic connection, it will be seen, holds the edges of the backs together tightly upon the contents of the file, and also permits its proper expansion.

By making the elastic cord continuous also, I secure an increased capacity for expansion, which increase is exactly equal to the two lengths of the elastic cord in the tubes.

As shown in the drawings, the invention is represented as a file for letters, invoices, &c., for which use the invention is more especially designed, and when thus used a series of blank pages, I), with an alphabetical index, is permanently arranged between the backs, and secured by the continuous elastic cord 0, which passes through the holes in the same.

In relation to the scope of my invention, however, I would state that I propose to apply the improvement to other uses besides that of a lettor-file, as the features of improvement are valuable for, and applicable to, photograph albums, portfolios, music books, temporary binders for pamphlets, and all other similar articles requiring expansible backs.

In making use of lazy-tongs I would state that I do not claim the same, broadly, as it has been applied to a similar use in paper-files.

I therefore limit my invention, as to this feature, to the particular adjustment of the lazy-tongs, and also their particular arrangement, whereby the same are adapted to be used in connection with the stiff backs or leaves of the book or file. This particular-arrangement consists in pivoting or jointing together the ends of the terminal bars of the lazy-tongs, whereby the latter are made to terminate with converging ends at single points, at which points they may be hinged and latched to the clamps on the backs without affecting their extensible character, it being obvious that if the ends of the lazy-tongs were allowed to be free and divergent, the lateral movement of these divergent ends in the extension or retraction of the lazy-tongs would prevent them from being hinged directly to the tracks.

My arrangement also permits the location of the pivoted adjusting-screw in the center of the clasp, which gives finish and symmetry to the same. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. The combination, with the-backs A A, of

the clasp O, constructed in the form of lazytongs, terminating with converging end bars, hinged to one of the backs, and adapted to engage with a catch on the other, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The thumb-screw 0, combined with the bars of the clasp G, to form at the same time a pivot and a frictional adjustment, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the connected and folding backs A A, of the tubes d and the continuous flexible spring 0, arranged to pass through said tubes, as and for the purpose described.

PAREN ENGLAND.

Witnesses:

- EDW. W. BYRN,

S0L0N O. KnMoN. 

